Volume 17

  • No. 4 April 2021

    Keeping translation on track

    The cover illustrates the synthetic protein quality control (ProQC) system, in which a 5’ toehold switch hybridizes with a trigger sequence at the 3’ end of the mRNA to facilitate ribosomal translation of full-length proteins.

    See Yang et al.

  • No. 3 March 2021

    Coupled conformations

    Single-molecule FRET sensors made by incorporating unnatural amino acids shed light on the mechanism of allosteric activation in mGluR2 metabotropic glutamate receptors, revealing how conformational changes of the ligand-binding domain with loose coupling to the cysteine-rich domain propagate during receptor activation.

    See Liauw et al.

  • No. 2 February 2021

    Complexity at the cuticle

    Genetic and chemical perturbations in petunia flowers reveal that the cuticle acts as a sink for volatiles during emission to prevent cellular damage. Alteration of the cuticle affects emission of different volatiles depending on their physiochemical properties.

    See Liao et al.

  • No. 1 January 2021

    Protected by the peroxisome

    In yeast, targeting potentially toxic proteins to the peroxisome (here demonstrated with yellow fluorescent protein) protects the cell from harmful effects. Using this peroxisome-targeting approach with the toxic enzyme norcoclaurine synthase enables increased production of (S)-reticuline and other alkaloids.

    See Grewal et al.